Cabbage Sald

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Jackie, but my mom also has a recipe very similar. It is a great fresh side dish!


Ingredients:
1 cup slivered almonds
4 Tbsp seasame seeds
3/4 cup oil (I usually end up using only about 1/2 cup)
3 Tbsp sugar
1 pkg Chicken Ramen noodles
6 Tbsp Red wine vinegar
Angel Hair cabbage (mixed with carrots, and red cabbage, or separate pkgs)
Diced Red pepper
Sliced green onions

Directions:
1. Saute almonds, seeds, and oil until Golden

2. Remove from heat, add sugar, red wine vinegar, and seasoning packet from Ramen. Cool dressing to room temperature.

3. Add cabbage, gr. onions, peppers and crushed up Ramen noodles. Toss together with dressing and serve.

Pumpkin Bars

I love pumpkin bars this time of year. This is my mom's recipe and you can make one jelly roll pan, or two 9x13 pans and it always make a ton. mmmmm!



Cake Ingredients:
1 cup Oil
2 cups sugar
2 cups Pumpkin (1 lb can)
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon




Frosting ingredients:
3-4oz cream cheese (softened)
3 Tbsp melted butter
3 cups powdered sugar (or more)
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp Milk (add as needed)


Directions:
1. Mix all cake ingredients together, beat until smooth

2. Pour in 1 jelly roll pan or 2 9x13 pan (Greased)

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

4. Let cool completely

5. Mix frosting ingredients together and frost the cake.

Apple Crisp

My mom made this recipe from All Recipe's a few weeks ago when I was at their house, and it was so good that I made the recipe for myself. So easy and a a perfect fall dessert!


Ingredients:
6-10 apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
1 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1 tspn cinnamon

Topping:
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tspn baking powder
1/4 tspn baking soda
1/2 cup melted butter

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan.

3. Mix together the white sugar, cinnamon, and 1 Tbspn flour and sprinkle over apples and stir to coat.

4. Combine oats, brown sugar, baking powder baking soda and melted butter and 1 cup flour. Crumble over the apple mixture


5. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

Mimi's Chile

It is getting down right cold here in Chicago, and that means it is time for some Chili. Everyone has their own favorite chili recipe, and this is the recipe from my mom, but it is originally from my Mimi. It is delicious, and super easy, perfect for the fall football watching season!

as you can see I'm missing the onion and green pepper in the picture... sorry! I also sometimes like to add Black beans which I obviously did here since you can see their reflection in the toaster!

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
1 can tomato sauce
1 can chopped tomatoes (undrained)
2-3 cans chili hot beans (undrained)
I often add 1 can of black beans because I love them.


Directions:
1. In a large pot or dutch oven, brown hamburger, onion and green pepper together. Drain off the excess fat.

2. Add tomatoes, sauce, and beans. Stir.

3. Heat through, top with shredded cheese if desired.

Huevos Rancheros

My brother (David) and his wife (Jackie) made these for us when we were at their house in Napa earlier this summer, and they were so delicious that I had to make them at home! They are pretty easy, and so delicious!



Ingredients:
1 can Black beans (drained but not rinsed)
1/2 Onion (chopped)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
Tostadas
Salsa
Shredded Cheese
Eggs (we poached ours, but you could also fry or scramble them)

Garnish:
Sour Cream
Avocado
Hot sauce

Directions:
1. Saute Onions and Garlic in Oil, then add Black beans. Heat through. (I didn't use onions this time because I forgot to buy one, but I will next time)

2. Preheat Oven to 350. On a cookie sheet place 4 tostadas. Layer each one with a layer of Black beans, then a layer of salsa, followed by a layer of cheese.

3. Place in the oven and heat through (5 - 10 min). While heating poach (or fry, or scramble) 4 eggs (one for each tostada).

4. Remove from Oven, top with egg, and garnish with hot sauce, avocado, and sour cream.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Since football season is now under way, I usually start to try out new appetizers and dips (along with soups, but it still to warm out for that yet). This Dip is apparently not new at all, but I first heard about it at The Bitten Word. However you can also make it the way you see it on the FRANK'S® REDHOT® page. Below is the one I made and thought was best.

Ingredients:
8 oz pkg Cream Cheese (Softened)
1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
1/4 cup Blue cheese salad dressing
1/2 cup buffalo sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or crumbled blue cheese)
2 cups shredded meat from fully cooked rotisserie chicken

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350.

2. In a deep baking dish, mix cream cheese, Salad dressing, buffalo sauce, and cheese. Stir until combined. Stir in Chicken

3. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until heated through. Serve with tortilla chips (or bread)

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

We really love the Lettuce Wraps at P.F. Chang's so when I found this recipe, I knew I had to try it. I changed a couple things, and now we have it fairly regularly and love it! Although I have a hard time getting the lettuce to stay wrapped around the meat as I eat it, so if anyone has any suggestions let me know!


Ingredients:
Olive Oil
1/2 red onion (chopped)
1/2 bell pepper (chopped)
2 cloves Garlic (minced)
2 Tbsp Ginger root (grated)
Chopped Cilantro
1 Lb Ground Turkey
4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Sriracha Hot Sauce (or other hot sauce)
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Head iceberg Lettuce

Directions:
1. Chop Onion, Pepper, Cilantro, Garlic, and Grate ginger. (use as much cilantro as you feel like pulling off :))

2. Heat oil in wok or large frying pan, add onion and pepper and saute for 2 min.

3. Add garlic and ginger and saute one more minute

4. Add ground turkey and mix with vegetables. Allow to cook for 4 minutes or so.

5. Add soy sauce, Sriracha Sauce, and brown sugar.

6. Continue to cook turkey is brown and crumbles (3- 5min)

7. When Turkey is done cooking, add chopped cilantro and cook for another minute

8. Serve inside individual lettuce leaves and wrap lettuce around the mixture. Add rice if desired (we often add Brown rice, But it is good without as well if you are trying to stay away from carbs)